FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[skunks_sidekick]

Piloto has not progressed a bit from last year to this year.  He still gets nervous feet, and for the most part cannot read the defense if he gets any pressure at all.  Piloto wouldn't have seen the field the rest of the game if Seaman doesn't re-aggravate his knee injury during that run in the Stagg Bowl. 

LK is loyal to his seniors-to-be to a point, but it wouldn't totally shock me if Burke gets a solid percentage of the snaps next year.  This will be the big question mark with this team.  We have very good to great receivers coming back, and if Murray improves again this off-season like he did during last year's, the other skill positions will be Stagg-worthy.

[Dr. Acula]

Swing by the boards only to find a bunch of chatter...I love it. 

The QB debate is interesting.  Seaman reminds me of a Bruney/Burghardt type, but honestly I think both of those guys were a little more athletic with better arms than Neal.  That's no knock on Neal.  Bruney was obviously very good and Burghardt was a 200+ career pass eff. guy so certainly no slouch either. 

With Piloto you're going to have to overcome turnovers against good teams.  Basically if a team can get pressure I'm assuming at least 2 turnovers because he just seems to panic a little under duress.  Not that this is abnormal, it's just what you get with a pocket passer sometimes.  The problem is he's not a Rocco where he can move well enough to escape and make a good throw.

I just don't see a scenario where Piloto is the full-time QB next year.  Everything I've heard is that LK loves Neal.  If they're both healthy I think Seaman is your starter again in 2012.  Just my $.02

Everyone be safe tonight and have a great New Year! 

[badgerwarhawk]

Here's hoping all of you have a safe, prosperous and happy new year. 

[Raider 68]

Swing by the boards only to find a bunch of chatter...I love it. 

The QB debate is interesting.  Seaman reminds me of a Bruney/Burghardt type, but honestly I think both of those guys were a little more athletic with better arms than Neal.  That's no knock on Neal.  Bruney was obviously very good and Burghardt was a 200+ career pass eff. guy so certainly no slouch either. 

With Piloto you're going to have to overcome turnovers against good teams.  Basically if a team can get pressure I'm assuming at least 2 turnovers because he just seems to panic a little under duress.  Not that this is abnormal, it's just what you get with a pocket passer sometimes.  The problem is he's not a Rocco where he can move well enough to escape and make a good throw.

I just don't see a scenario where Piloto is the full-time QB next year.  Everything I've heard is that LK loves Neal.  If they're both healthy I think Seaman is your starter again in 2012.  Just my $.02

Everyone be safe tonight and have a great New Year! 

Dr. Acula,

If Coach Kehres goes back to Seaman as his starter and most of the reps, then the Raiders go back to a running team with a short passing game only. To get past the good teams, you have to have the deep ball threat to keep things honest. Not sure if Coach Kehres will use Piloto as as back up only! Rscl70 said it earlier Seaman does not throw a good ball, and I do not see any change there. Not sure of Burke's arm since he did not pass much at all in 2011.

[Dr. Acula]

In a perfect world I agree with you 68.  But the fact is that the guy who gives you the deep threat you covet has 7 turnovers in 2 Stagg Bowls.  I don't care what kind of gun you have you cannot be that careless with the football against great teams.  My point is simply that I believe LK goes back to Seaman because he trusts him with the football.  Is that ideal?  Certainly not.  And Seaman has flaws to be sure.  But his flaws don't lose you games.  And with their D I think that outweighs the home run threat the vast majority of the time.  That's why I agree with Skunks...had Seaman not reinjured the knee I don't know how much Piloto we see in the Stagg Bowl after Seaman's drive.  Oh well.  Just difference in opinions I guess.  At least it gives us something to banter about!

[BashDad]

With Piloto you're going to have to overcome turnovers against good teams.  Basically if a team can get pressure I'm assuming at least 2 turnovers because he just seems to panic a little under duress.  Not that this is abnormal, it's just what you get with a pocket passer sometimes.  The problem is he's not a Rocco where he can move well enough to escape and make a good throw.

I guess this is the part that I have little trouble shrugging off, at least when considering Piloto's faults as compared to Seaman's. Turnovers are fixable. That's a coachable problem and UMU has good coaches. There ain't nothing like the kinds of turnovers that Piloto was responsible for in the Stagg to encourage a reconsideration, say, of how one approaches playing the position. He'll have 8 months to plan for how he won't be doing that kind of thing again. Seaman can spend the next 8 months exclusively performing left-arm curls and he won't suddenly become a more developed and dynamic thrower.

The situation isn't great, that's for sure, and unlike those years with Bruney/Burghardt or Jorris/Micheli, one senses that this QB tandem isn't necessarily a complimentary one insomuch as you don't get the feeling that the Piloto/Seaman rotation is a controlled and sturdy component of a broader plan. It just feels.... like guessing. Or hoping. A question of who might be more of a liability, who might be worse, instead of who might be the best. Throw in Burke and you've got a mess that I think makes this upcoming UMU team compelling in its offensive vulnerability. It may look like a problem that LK and co have seen before, but I'm not so sure.

[BashDad]

But his [Seaman's] flaws don't lose you games.

Yes, they do.

[rscl70]

Happy New Year DIII!!  Lot's to look forward to in 2012. 

[section13raiderfan]

Piloto gives you height and passing velocity that Seaman doesnt. Behind a line like UWWs he would have won it all also. His lack of foot speed and lateral movement nullifies his natural stregnths. When pressured he throws errant passes/interceptions or gets sacked. If he throws off his back foot due to line failure then a turnover is likely IMHO. A sack is better than a turnover. I dont see LK solving anything through coaching up Piloto. He is, what he is, what he ever will be.   ( by the way...he is a winner, not perfect, but a winner)  For Piloto to be the guy next year the Oline will have to be tailored to his abilities. If the Oline is not tweaked then it will be more of the same with both QBs sharing the offense. Seaman still has the natural ability to buy time with his feet until someone gets open or run it for the first down to keep the drive alive. Given time, Seaman completes his passes, they are just not real deep ones. Seaman is never going to see what Piloto sees downfield because his eyes are always going to be lower that Matts. Matt is never going to make any Dback miss with his moves like Neal does either. Neither guy enhances his running backs performance with his ball handling slight of hand, or his threat to take it all the way with his feet off the play action fake. Which brings us to Burke. Like Seaman he will never see what Piloto sees downfield. Like Seaman he can buy time with his feet and run to keep drives alive. Who knows what kind of arm stregenth Kevin has? He has not been asked to display that so far. Burke has the advantage of healthy legs. Do you develop his passing game...or work on Pilotos running game? Do you Max protect ALL QBS at the expense of the passing game? That would take a lot of coaching and practice. and piss off a lot of receivers who dont need to change ANYTHING. Do Tightends trump Wideouts next year? It might buy Piloto the protection he needs to be the full timer. It might benefit the runningbacks also. Its not going to be all that great for the other 2 QBs. If LK loses alot of hair in the offseason....its from all the headscratching.

What happened to Skilliter? NOTHING in the Stagg Bowl? Really?  What happened to Pendergast? Unforgiven? Any big backs in the pipeline? We could use a pounder. What happened to Mathies leg? It got ugly at the end of the season. Yet, he gets a shot at receiver in the Stagg Bowl at a position he didnt play all year, and with the QB he is not known for his familiarity with. Please explain...I dont get it.

Anybody willing to pay extra for season tickets next year? What if it came with a receipt for a charitable contribution?

[Dr. Acula]

But his [Seaman's] flaws don't lose you games.

Yes, they do.

Well ANY flaws CAN lose you games technically.  I think the fact that Piloto clearly has more physical tools in the passing game yet Seaman starts and plays as many or more snaps tells you which flaws LK thinks lose you more though. 

I agree 100% that their rotation often feels like guessing/hoping.  I wish one of the two would step up and rip the reigns away from the other, but it just hasn't happened yet.  And after 2 years of it I think the best bet may indeed be Burke to do that next year.           

 

[Knightstalker]

I have been reading the comments on Piloto and Seaman and not having seen enough of Mount besides Stagg bowls I can't say which I think is better but who would you rather have at quarterback someone with all the tools like Ryan Leaf or Jeff George but can't play the game without their heads up their butts or a Jim McMahon or Sonny Jurgeson type who throw wounded ducks but just win?  Sorry to use an NFL comparison but I could not think of any college qbs who threw ugly passes like McMahon and Jurgeson or even Billy Kilmer.

[edward de vere]

Billy Kilmer threw wounded ducks.

Sonny Jurgensen threw lasers.

With his off-hand.

Behind his back.

Upside-down.

On his back.

With his eyes closed.

While drunk.

Underneath a pile of women.

[HScoach]

What happened to Skilliter? NOTHING in the Stagg Bowl? Really? 

What happened to Pendergast? Unforgiven?

Skilliter was nursing a injury and didn't need push it with Murray back at full strength.

Drew P blew out his knee mid season.  Hopefully he puts in the work to come back from it. 

[HScoach]

On the QB debate, I'm with Dr Acula.  With the defense we have and the talent at WR, we don't need the QB to win the game.  Just don't lose it.  And that is Piloto's problem.  He's as likely to make a perfect throw as he is a terrible throw.  And as a coach that would drive me nuts.  Given the roster that Mount has, I'd rather play with a less physically gifted QB that is also less likely to make the big mistake.

Honestly I don't think either QB has the combination of physical and mental attributes to be great, but I firmly believe LK knows which one he'd rather play with.  NEAL SEAMAN.  And who am I to question his decision?   

Piloto might have a big arm, but the playoffs the last two years have proven that he's just a tall guy with a strong arm that can't handle the pressure.


And on the Burke question, go back and watch his game in the finals against Wayne HS.  He has the potential.  My Lord, he took St Ed's to a state title, not St Iggies. 

The other young QB to keep an eye is Namdar out of TX.  That kid is a freak athlete. 

My guess right now is that Seaman is the starter next year with Piloto getting passed by one if not both of the young'ins.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I was trying to do some research on Namdar from his HS (Southlake Carroll in TX) and he was the starting QB on the JV as a Junior, but it looks like he played WR his Senior Season.  He also was a 400, 800, 4X400 track guy in HS and his 4X400 team made it to state.